KARACHI: Traders of poultry, beef, mutton and vegetables increased the prices amid strong demand on the eve of Eidul Fitr.

Having ignored official prices throughout the outgoing holy month, the poultry retailers had a field day on Monday and charged Rs320-350 per kg for poultry meat in many areas compared to Rs300 a few days back.

Some retailers demanded Rs280-300 per kg for poultry meat against Rs260-270 some days ago.

The live bird rate on the day jumped to Rs200 per kg from Rs170-180 per kg.

The retailers used to keep Rs100 per kg difference between live bird price and its meat.

However, in view of Monday’s huge demand, they pushed up the difference up to Rs150 per kg. Many retailers also insisted consumers to buy white meat because of its high prices instead of live bird.

The local authorities with around 60 officials to control profiteering in big city like Karachi remained helpless throughout Ramazan to bring down the rates of poultry and other items.

In the initial days of Ramazan, the local authority fixed the rate of Rs144 and Rs244 per kg for live bird and its meat. By the end of the holy month, however, the authority raised the price to Rs150 and Rs250, respectively. But there was hardly any retail outlet or a big market in the city which was following these rates.

Official spokesperson for the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), Abdul Maroof Siddiqui, told Dawn that around 800,000 birds were slaughtered on Sunday which swelled to one to 1.1 million on Monday compared to the normal figure of 550,000-600,000.

He believed that price of clean poultry live bird meat should not exceed Rs300 per kg while with liver and other organs, the price should range between Rs280-300 for live bird meat.

In vegetables, tomato price shot up to Rs80 per kg from Rs40 a few days back while some retailers were seen demanding Rs50 for onion compared to Rs40. Potato continued to sell at Rs70 per kg despite imports.

Many retailers were demanding Rs100-120 per kg for cucumber which was priced Rs 40-50 few days back.

In red meat, consumers witnessed jump in the rates by Rs10-40 per kg in various areas.

Retailers charged Rs370-380 per kg for veil bachia meat with bones instead of Rs360 per kg. Veil meat without bones was sold at Rs460-500 per kg instead of Rs440 per kg. Surprisingly, the city government had fixed the rate of Rs330 per kg for veil bachia meat with bones.

“I have purchased 2kg boneless veil bachia meat from Water Pump FB Area at Rs 1,000,” said a customer.

Mutton, although in low demand because of high price, was available at Rs660-700 per kg against its official rate of Rs550 per kg.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2014